Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-11-29
TUTTLE'S PENSION.
Suspicious That it Was Obtained by Fraud
ulent Means


ulent Means
DEs MONIES, November % "A few
days ago a press dispatch from Washing
ton announced that the pension department
had received charges of irregularity and
fraud in matters pertaining to the pension
allowance to General Tuttle in 1880, and
which has since been regularly drawn by
him, and that an investigation has been
instituted, aud that a special examiner has
been detailed to look up the facts in the
case and report the same to the depart
ment. The telegram naturally created a
good deal of interest here, although the
local papers failed to comment upon the
matter until this morning, when the State
Register, the local organ of the General,
appeared with a wild-eyed editorial about
the 'mad-dog rebel element of the solid
South" acting through its creature,
Cleveland" being the instigators of the
fraudulent pension charge, and 1t hints
that if Tuttle is made the victim OF this
base conspiracy" the State of Iowa will
take him up and honor him as no man has
been honored by the State in recent years,
Whether this means that he Is to be
given Jarves F. Wilson's seat in the
United States Senate, or that Allison's
Presidential boom must wither In the
flames that makes General Tuttle mar
tyr, is not very clear, but it Is probably
the Senatorial seat that is referred to, as
that is the nearest at hand.
In 1880, General James M. Tuttle was
allowed a pension Of $50 month, or full
disability pension, for an alleged hernia,
claimed to have been the result Of injuries
received at the battle of Fort Donelson.
The claim is also set up that injuries were
inflicted upon his back by fall over log
during the same battle. 1t was not claim
ed in his application that he was wounded.
When the pension was allowed 1t was
antedated, and some $4,000 or $4,000 IN
hack pay was drawn. There are num-
ber of people now living in Des Moines
who claim to have certain knowledge that
the rupture was carried with General Tut
tie into the army, and was not entalied by
military services. 1t was not OF suthclent
importance to justify the examiningot sur
gecrs in rejecting him as unfit for military
duty, and it is claimed it is no worse now
than it was at the time Of his acceptance.
The claim of total disability is certainly
not justified, for no more rugged man
walks the streets of Des MoiDes to-day
than General Tuttle.
Who preferred the charges against him
is not known here. Having been preferred
the department is in duty bound to take
cognizance of them. 1t is not an unusual
case by any means. Matters of that kind
are being looked up in all sections Of the
country. The fraudulent cases are being
weeded out, and honest, deserving appll-
cants for pensions are having an impartial
hearing. There never has been time
when the old soldiers in this locality were
so well satisfied with the administration OF
the Pension Department. If General Tut
tbs case thould prove to be fraudulent he
will be dealt with the same as though he
were q humble aud unintluential soldier,
and if tie Republican party takes him up
and attempts TO put him in the Senate or
anywhere else on any such issue, IFS lead
ers will make a bigger mistake than Mr..
Blaine made when he listened to Brother
Purrhlrl